After working six (6) years for Texaco in New Orleans, Louisiana, Ray Holifield was continuously active in the Middle East from March 1970 through July 1975 advising/consulting with the national oil companies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Iran and Algeria. This was the time period when the Middle East governments were beginning to assume management and operations of their oil fields and needed technical help from U.S. oil experts.
Since 1975, affiliates of Holifield Energy Company (“Holifield”) have concentrated on utilizing fracture treatment, utilization of seismic to locate fractures associated with faults and horizontal drilling in the United States. Holifield has been credited with the development of seismic techniques allowing successful development of fracture systems in the Austin Chalk Trend commencing 1976. Holifield has drilled or caused to be drilled as consultant more than 1,500 vertical oil and gas wells in the Austin Chalk Trend of South Texas since 1975. These 1,500 wells (costing approximately 1.0 billion dollars) have produced over 200 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) with a value of approximately 4.5 billion dollars. Holifield and Bechtel Investments of San Francisco, California developed the first commercial tools for re-entry medium radius horizontal drilling in 1986. Holifield and Bechtel created a service company in 1987 to offer medium radius horizontal drilling technology specializing in re-entry of existing oil and gas wells. Holifield sold its one-half interest in the service company in 1991 for sizable profits so Holifield could withdraw from time spent managing a service company to concentrate on utilizing horizontal drilling as an oil company. During this time period, Holifield also established small oil companies in the United States, Colombia and Canada. Holifield has participated and/or operated approximately 250 horizontal wells in the Austin Chalk Trend.
Although Holifield continued oil and gas operations in Texas, beginning July 1992, affiliates of Holifield commenced efforts to establish a joint stock company (Permstar Oil and Gas) in Perm, Russia with Permneft. Permstar utilized bacteria to control paraffin with a pilot project in 1994 and 1995. Beginning July 1993, Holifield began efforts to structure a production sharing agreement in Kazakstan. A pilot project utilizing bacteria to control paraffin occurred in the Uzen field. The agreement in Kazakstan was between Kazamunaygas and HEC-G (a Holifield affiliate). Due to uncertain political situation, Russian activities will for the foreseeable future remain dormant. However, oil field operations will continue in Kazakstan as funds and opportunities are available.
Since 1996, Holifield has concentrated on organizing large oil and gas programs utilizing re-entry horizontal drilling in Giddings field in South Texas.
WORK HISTORY
B. RAY HOLIFIELD
